Press release

Caretaker government must end pre-poll political victimization

Lahore, 25 September 2023. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) takes strong exception to Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s claim that fair elections are possible without senior PTI leaders, including the chairperson Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in a graft case, and other leaders who were jailed following the 9 May riots. Given that the courts have yet to establish guilt in all such cases, Mr Kakar’s claims are anti-democratic and ill judged.

The prime minister should be aware that it is not for him or his government to decide unilaterally what constitutes a ‘fair’ election. The systematic way in which the PTI leadership has been dismantled—in the shape of mass arrests and rearrests, forced disassociation from the party, the disproportionate number of cases filed against political leaders and workers (including in military courts), and curbs on their freedom of expression and assembly—has not produced a level playing field. This is cause for concern because it perpetuates a pattern of pre-election manipulation that was also visible in 2018. HRCP also condemns the treatment meted out to former chief minister and PTI president Parvez Elahi, who was rearrested against the directive of the Lahore High Court.

HRCP reminds the government that responsibility for ensuring free and fair elections falls to the Election Commission of Pakistan. The caretaker government must desist from making irresponsible, partisan statements on matters not within its mandate. Instead, it must ensure that an environment conducive to free, fair, credible and inclusive elections is created and maintained.

Hina Jilani
Chairperson